In late April 2013,
GMA Network announced that they were developing a yet-to-be-titled
Lovi Poe-starrer primetime drama project. The network's resident screenwriter, Denoy Navarro-Punio conceptualized and developed the story which tells of "a woman born out of wedlock, and who, amidst adversaries, gets back on her feet to claim the life and love she deserves." The network's drama department hired seasoned actress and director,
Laurice Guillen to helm the series. In an interview, when asked what got her to accepting an assignment she, in the past, had dodged, Guillen admitted that "the offer was good, plus more." The network [for one], accommodated certain requests pertaining to shooting schedules given her aversion to taping long hours or till the "wee" hours of the morning. As to the actors she assembled for the series, Guillen said she was glad that most, if not all, of them are competent performers and "they are the best cast possible in terms of talent and professionalism". She's also very happy with the story, with the writers and creative team, and the network support. Apart from that, Guillen also stated her more personal reasons for saying "yes", said that "I told myself, when will I do something like this? [...] I'm not getting any younger, and when I am no longer physically capable of directing one, I don't want to regret that I didn't do it, at least once."
Casting The network began casting for
Akin Pa Rin ang Bukas in May 2013. The first actor to be cast was
Lovi Poe as the lead protagonist Lovelia Villacorta, followed by
Rocco Nacino as Jerry, the love interest. After the first sit down meeting with creative director
Jun Lana,
Cesar Montano immediately agreed to star on the series. Montano also stated that it was his desire to work again with director, Laurice Guillen—who was his director in the 1989 film
Ang Bukas ay Akin, which he won his very first acting award—as one of the main reasons why he accepted the project. The role of Jade Carmelo was originally offered to
Alessandra de Rossi. De Rossi turned it down, and it was given to Heussaff. Estrada signed on to portray Roel Villacorta, while Pineda was cast as the villain, Agatha Morales. After signing an exclusive contract with the network, veteran actress
Helen Gamboa was cast as Beatrice Villacorta in the project. However, she had to drop out of the series for "health reasons". Gamboa had already finished twenty-two sequences in different locations, so the production had to re-shoot all her scenes.
Liza Lorena who was originally tapped to play another important role in the series, was asked to replace Gamboa.
Gloria Romero, took the original role of Liza Lorena as Cristina Alperos, stated that she was hesitant to accept the said role when it was first offered to her. After a meeting with the production people regarding the concept, story line, her character and "when they told me that the director will be Laurice Guillen, I immediately grabbed the project." ==Production==